Fuel cell

Abstract

A coolant flow field is formed on a surface of a second metal separator. Further, a rubber bridge dividing the coolant flow field and a coolant supply passage is formed on the surface. The rubber bridge includes a plurality of channels connecting the coolant flow field and the coolant supply passage, a plurality of grooves between the channels, and a partition closing the grooves to prevent the flow of a coolant in the respective grooves.

1. A fuel cell formed by stacking an electrolyte electrode assembly and a metal separator in a stacking direction, said electrolyte electrode assembly including a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte interposed between said electrodes, a fluid flow field for supplying a fluid comprising at least one of a fuel gas, an oxygen-containing gas, and a coolant along a surface of said metal separator, and a fluid passage for supplying the fluid in the stacking direction, being formed in said fuel cell, said fuel cell comprising:
 a rubber wall member provided on said metal separator, said rubber wall member disposed between said fluid flow field and said fluid passage to divide said fluid flow field and said fluid passage; 
 said rubber wall member having:
 a channel disposed between said fluid flow field and said fluid passage to allow flow of said fluid between said fluid flow field and said fluid passage; 
 one or more grooves formed by a cutout in the stacking direction, said one or more grooves disposed adjacent to said channel and extending along said channel; and 
 one or more partitions disposed within each of said one or more grooves, said one or more partitions closing at least part of each of said one or more grooves to prevent flow of said fluid between said fluid flow field and said fluid passage. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein said rubber wall member is provided on one surface of said metal separator, and a sealing ridge is provided on the other surface opposite to the surface of said metal separator; and
 said sealing ridge and said rubber wall member are overlapped with each other in the stacking direction. 
 
     
     
       3. A fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein said partition is formed integrally with said rubber wall member. 
     
     
       4. A fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal separator has a rubber seal member formed integrally with said rubber wall member for preventing leakage of said fluid. 
     
     
       5. A fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein said rubber wall member has a partition for closing said groove at an upstream end in a flow direction of the fluid to prevent flow of the fluid. 
     
     
       6. A fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein said rubber wall member has partitions for closing said groove at both ends in a flow direction of the fluid to prevent flow of the fluid. 
     
     
       7. A fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said rubber wall member has a second channel disposed between said fluid flow field and said fluid passage to allow flow of said fluid between said fluid flow field and said fluid passage, said second channel extending along said channel; and 
 said one or more grooves are disposed between and extend along said channel and said second channel.